Can attachment



Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN ATTACHMENT MarionD. Sansom, Rivulet, Mont.

Application December 23, 1943, Serial No. 515,455

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel attachment for tin and equivalent cansand containers, especially of the readily puncturable type used formerchandising and subsequently dispensing liquid commodities such astomato juice, evaporated and condensed milk, and so on, commoditieswhich are poured, generally speaking, in limited quantities forprogressive consumption, and the attachment is both a can opening aswell as closing device.

n Needless to say, I am full well aware that the sub-class to which theinvention pertains is well developed by the existence therein ofnumerous types of attachments possessing corresponding features andadvantages. It follows, therefore, that notwithstanding the admittedlyactive nature of the art to which` the invention pertains, I havenevertheless succeeded in devising for use another attachment in thiscategory which, it is believed, is a novel contribution to this line ofendeavor, and is possessed of readily recognizable refinements andimprovements.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by anappropriate resilient snap-` on adapter device of general U-shaped form,this having appropriate detents at its ends to engage the adjacentportions of the can and further including diametrically opposed,outstanding, liplike extensions functioning as convenient pouringspouts.

Novelty is further predicated upon an adapter of the aforementioned typeembodying a pair of bendable, struck-out limbs, the latter beingprovided with can piercing and closing elements and terminating at theirouter ends in appropriately designed, quickly applicable and releasabledetents or retainers.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanyingillustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals are employed todesignate like elements or parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an accessory or attachment constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention, the same being appliedto a conventional evaporated milk can or equivalent tin.

Figure 2 is an end view of the attachment, that is, a view observingeither of the two ends seen in Figure 1, Figure 2 being at right anglesto Figure l. l

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally on the planeof the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3 showing the man- 55 ner in which theparts associate themselves when the puncturing and closing limbs aresprung out to open positions.

Figure 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on the plane of the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a. cross-section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

The adapter frame proper, which is of appropriate metal or equivalentmaterial, and which is generally U-shaped in principal outline or form,is denoted by the numeral I. This is an elongated strap part whosemedian body portion 8 has struck out therefrom a pair of duplicate limbs9. Before describing the specific construction of said limbs, attentionis rst directed to the outer end construction, at each end, of theU-shaped adapter fitting 1. In this connection, and as brought out toadvantage in Figure 5, the lateral downturned ends I0 are bentintermediate their ends, as at I I, to provide retention shoulders whichengage beneath the overhanging ledge I2 formed by the can top. In someinstances this is a rolled bead, and of course the dimensions and shapeswill be changed slightly to accommodate said variations. The extremitiesof said downbent ends are directed outwardly at right angles inhorizontal planes, as indicated at I 3. Then the intermediate portion.of this out-bent end portion is slightly channeled, as at I3a to providea shallow pouring spout.

Reverting to the special formation and coni'lguration of the swingablelimbs 9, these function, as before indicated, as can opening orpuncturing devices, and, secondly, as satisfactory ways and means ofclosing the opening in the can, thus punctured. Each limb has formed atits inner end and an indentation I 4 which is of sufficient curvaturethat the crest or principal bend thereof functions as a sort of aspring. In other words, the tendency of this is to maintain the outerfree -end of the limb under stress and when said outer end is released,to swing it to the open position disclosed in Figure 4. On the extremeouter end of the limb there is a suitable latch formed. 'I'his comprisesa down-bent portion I5, a laterally and upwardly directed terminal andnger piece I6, and an intermediate, inwardly offset bend I'I whichfunctions as a keeper. It; will be noticed that this keeper engages theaforementioned lip I2, the same lip which is engaged by the detents I I.The intermediate portion of the limb is provided with a downwardlystruck tongue I8 which is triangular in form, as shown in Figure 6. Thisfunctions as a spur and serves to penetrate the can top to form thecustomary pouring hole. Due

to the nature of the hole punctured, the tongue serves also as aclosure. Therefore, in order to clear the opening. it is necessary torelease the latch or keeper l1 by way of the nger piece Il allowing thespring bend I4 to come into play and to spring the limb 9 and closurespur Il to open position.

I desire to stress again the simple and expedient formation from asingle strip or strap of suitable metal, whereby to provide the threeessential parts, namely, the adapter fitting 1 with its accessories, andthe two complementa] limbs or members 9 with their respective inherentfeatures and advantages. More particularly. the U'- shaped part l ischaracterized by the down-bent 'end portion I0, the retaining detents iland the outstanding pouring lip or spout I3. The respective limbs 9 arecharacterized by their self-opening springs Il, spurs I8 and fingerpiece equipped keepers IG and i1.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction withthe invention as illustrated in the drawing will enable the reader ofthe alleged features of merit and novelty sufilcient to clarify theconstruction of .the invenf tion as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts maybe resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made fromthe invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. An attachment of the class described comprising a one-piecesubstantially U-shaped adapter including a. bight portion provided withcan engaging detents and terminal pouring outstanding spouts at oppositeouter ends, said bight portion being provided with resilient struck-outlimbs, the inner adjacent ends of the respective limbs being providedwith transverse indented bends providing tensioning springs, the outerends of said' limbs being provided with downbent linger-pieces equippedwith keeper elements, in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. A can attachment of the class described comprising a one-piecesubstantially U-shaped adapter embodying a central bight portion andlaterally downbent ends fashioned to nt snugly down over one end portionof a can, said laterally downbent ends being formed into can-engaging,friction-retained detents. the terminal portions of said downbent endsbeing then bent laterally outward to form horizontal pouring spouts,said spouts being longitudinally channelled, said bight portion anddownbent end portions having duplicate resilient limbs struck outtherefrom, the outer ends of said limbs being formed into substantiallyV-shaped bends, the crotch portions oi' said bends being fashioned intokeepers and the free ends into linger-pieces, said limbs inwardly ofsaid downbent end portions having can penetrating spurs struck outtherefrom.

3. A can attachment of the class described comprising a one-piecesubstantially U-shaped adapter embodying a bight portion and laterallydownbent ends and fashioned to fit snugly over one end portion of a can,said laterally downbent ends being formed into can-engaging,friction-retained detents, the terminal portions of said downbent endsbeing then bent laterally outward to form horizontal pouring spouts,said spouts being longitudinally channelled, said bight portion anddownbent end portions having duplicate resilient limbs struck outtherefrom, the' outer ends of said limbs being formed into substantiallyV-shaped bends, the crotch portions of said bends being fashioned intokeepers and the free ends into finger-pieces, said limbs inwardly ofsaid downbent end portions having spurs struck out therefrom, the innerends of said limbs constituting hinges, the hinges being disposed inclose parallel proximity and having transversely disposed indentationsforming springs and the crest portions of said springs resting incontact with the adjacent part of the can.

MARION D. SANBOM.

